Listened to postgame coverage today on Cardinals Radio Network and the organization is very high on DeJong. Not just performance, but lot of remarks about his character and accessibility. Pleased with his defense, too.

Listened to postgame coverage today on Cardinals Radio Network and the organization is very high on DeJong. Not just performance, but lot of remarks about his character and accessibility. Pleased with his defense, too.

Another thing about him that goes largely unnoticed is that when someone in the locker room has a question about biochemistry, they will often go to Paul.

Paul was selected to the All Rookie team yesterday at SS. Great honor and once in a lifetime by a Redbird Baseball player most likely.

"DeJong never played shortstop—not even in college—until 11 games at the very end of last season at Double-A. DeJong took to it quickly, shored up some fine points at Triple-A, and took over the Cardinals everyday shortstop job by the end of June. DeJong's .857 OPS was third highest among big league shortstops, behind only Carlos Correa and Zack Cozart, and he led the Cardinals in homers despite playing only 108 games. Advanced metrics were fond of his defense as well, with Baseball-Reference.com crediting DeJong with the fifth-highest Range Factor per Game mark among NL shortstops."

"The rookie class of 2017 was record-breaking at the top, deep through the bottom and filled with top prospects showing flashes of their excellence. As time wears on, it will be no surprise if this rookie class stands the test of time as one of the best."

"I think Illinois State has a lot of potential in football that has been untapped. When it comes time to move up to [the Bowl series level], it will happen, I truly believe that with my heart." - Al BowmanApril 15, 2011

I'm not sure Paul's affinity for the Redbird baseball program versus other worthy causes to support, but could he end up being our Curtis Granderson someday? It may take until he gets one of those club option years picked up ($12.5 million for 2024 and $15 million for 2025), but I could see there at least being a Paul DeJong endowed scholarship. Although DeJong-Stewart Stadium would sound really good if Paul and Brock wanted to each donate $500k towards an indoor facility someday.

I don't know if we'll ever have an athlete do what Granderson did ($5 mil towards a new stadium), but he has also earned about $105 million over the course of his career and is on tap for $5 mil this year with the Jays.

I think the Cardinals got a steal here. Think about the market. Dude is a + defensive 3B and short stop who can also play outfield and, oh yeah, RAKES. He is going to average more than 25 HR a year for the next 3-4 years and the Cardinals just got that for $4 million a year through 2024, when he is 30. Now, in the off chance Paul does have an average season line of .270, 20 HR and 85 RBI while playing SS for the next 6 years, dude is going to get PAID. And I mean probably the highest earning ISU graduate in history paid.

His club options for 2024 and 2025 would pay him north of $12.5 Mil and 15 Mil respectively. If they trade him (and with this favorable ass contract, I can see him being a HUGE trade target with only $4 million a year on him), the team options may dissolve with that. If he hits the open market at the age of 29, he might be in line for a 4 year, $100,000,000 contract.

I think it is about that point we start renaming Duffy Bass Field to DeJong Field and asking for 7 figure checks.